Page 85 of For Dear Life

“Especially anybody connected to Rory or Oz. Like the shifter asshole who leads them,” adds Logan.

“Maybe Viggo instructed Rory?” suggests Holly. “And Oz?”

“No,” I reply. “Incorrect.”

“And you could only sound so sure if you were involved,” says Logan in triumph.

“Shifters rarely kill each other unless there’s an issue within their packs. And Viggo doesn’t like Leif. Leif avoids shifters. There’s no way he’s involved.”

I startle as Holly pats my arm. “Don’t worry, Violet. Leif will be okay.”

“I’m not worried. This merely expedites my need to locate the real killers,” I say, half to myself.

“Yeah, at least Kai can leave his house now someone’s arrested,” says Raul. “His parents are paranoid someone will kill him next and won’t let him out.”

“No!” They stare at my vehement tone. “Kai should not leave the house.”

“I heard he’s grounded for the DUI,” says Holly hastily as Logan’s brow draws together at my vehemence.

“His parents don’t watch him 24/7. Can’t cage Kai.” Raul smirks.

“Good grief,” I mutter. “Is the guy stupid? If Kai’s father’s concerned for his safety, Kai should pay attention.”

“Why the sudden concern?” asks Logan.

“Because Leif and Oz aren’t responsible!” I look at Holly. “I need to find Rowan. He doesn’t know what’s happened, or he would’ve called me.”

“We should’ve sorted the shifters months ago,” says Logan darkly. “If they come into town now, we will.”

The world threatens to crack further as the fault line between shifters and humans widens by the moment. “Why is excessive violence your solution to conflict?” I ask. “Is it not enough that they arrested Oz if you believe he killed Wesley?”

Logan steps forward. “Yeah? There won’t be justice for Wes. Just you watch. The shifter elders will step in and take Oz back to their stinking settlement. At least your boyfriend will get what he deserves unless he pleads his shifter side, and the elders take him too.”

No. No. What’s happening here?

“Yeah,” puts in Raul. “Wait until Kai hears. Then the fun will begin—it’s the shifters’ fault he’s grounded.”

“Uh. The DUI?” Holly reminds them.

I’m barely listening any longer, mind in overdrive what I’ll do next. Leif was at the scene the night Wesley died, but I’m positive he didn’t touch the guy. Leif’s memories proved that. Others need to see into Leif’s mind too—see the truth.

A thought buzzes around like an insect. The witches took Oz from the hospital and hid him. Why would they then allow their construct into a situation where authorities will discover his true state?

I catch sight of myself in one of the many mirrors that run through the mall. A girl dressed in black leggings and loose cotton and lace shirt to match, the long silver pendant hiding a blade resting against her pale skin. Dorian Blackwood’s darkling daughter with her aloof persona, the notable blue eyes watching the world in a different way to how these people do.

A deceptively delicate and pretty girl with a love of telling the world exactly what she is and why they should keep away from her.

Isn’t the answer clear? If the Blackwood runes couldn’t implicate me, my vocal pride that I’m a necromancer will.

29

LEIF

Oz has no mind because he’s a necromancer’s construct; mine’s blank after being blasted out of reality. One minute I’m preparing to meet up with the others again, the next I’m hauled into a cop car and thrown into an interview room, confused as hell.

Who set me up? Shifters or those bloody witches?

I’ve sat at this bare table in the interview room for what feels like hours, repeating my denial again and again, as a gray-haired detective and a younger, friendlier faced one play good cop/bad cop with me. Senior Detective Wagner and Detective Harding. They interviewed me once before, after Wes’s death, but last time with witches present who confirmed every word was the truth.

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